“What a song! Wow”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Monday, August 15, 2022
Luke 1:46-55 (Forward, p. 17) CEV p. 277
Bible critics can sometimes be downright weird, and sometimes rather counter intuitive and nonsensical. For instance, they have suggested that the various songs of praise found at the beginning of Luke’s gospel (the Benedictus, the Magnificat and the Nunc Dimittis) were not composed by their ‘suggested’ authors (Zachariah, Mary and Simeon) but by some later poet, inserted here by Luke and then ascribed to their presently named authors. These critics suggest that the named persons, supposedly being relatively untalented in such things, could not ‘possibly’ have penned them or uttered them themselves. And, with Mary’s Magnificat, they further suggest that it was based on Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 2:1-10. But that further begs the question of how a simple, uneducated housewife like Hannah could have composed that prayer.
Such critics gloss over, or forget, the long tradition of passionate, articulate, extemporaneous prayers found throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. We see this with Miriam, Moses, David and countless others. And, to me, this only makes sense. Here were people steeped in the Scriptures and totally part of a non-technical, largely oral and non ‘literary’ (in the sense of being wedded to the written word) culture. Story-telling and an oral tradition was foundational to their way of life. Furthermore, their worship tended to be less ordered, and more spontaneous and from the heart. So, why would they not be able to utter such hymns of praise! So, why should we dismiss such hymns out of hand? I think that doing so is totally inappropriate.
Having said all this, let’s look at the content of this psalm for a moment. It is packed full with Biblical themes, themes such as God’s care for and special regard for the humble, the poor and the lowly, God’s pursuit of justice, God’s overthrow and reversal of existing power structures, God’s mercy towards His people, and God’s abiding faithfulness to the covenant that He made with Israel. All of this is totally consistent with God’s revelation of Himself, a revelation that Mary would have known so well.
And all the things that Mary here praises God for are also things that we would do well to praise God for as well, for He has blessed us in all the same ways. The God that she worshipped and praised is our God as well. That, perhaps, is why this hymn of praise, the Magnificat, was also adopted by the Christian church and incorporated into its worship life. But, not only that, it is quite fitting and appropriate for each of us to use within our daily, personal praise and worship as well. Amen.
Forward notes: “And my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant” (verse 47-48a).
Commemoration: Saint Mary the Virgin
“What would it take to welcome Christ as joyfully as Mary did? How do we follow Mary’s path? Her life was not easy, as she would ultimately see her son crucified on the cross. Yet, here she rejoices in being chosen by God as the mother of the one who changed her life, our lives, forever.
“Mary gives thanks for her lowliness. Pride and power have no value for God, who transforms the definition of social standing. Given the gift of a child, Mary rejoices in God her Savior and praises God for lifting up the lowly and feeding the hungry with good things.
“Perhaps we need quiet time away from the twittering and buzzing that fills our lives. We need to turn from pride to selflessness, from power to discernment. We may not sing out in the beautiful words of the Magnificat, but with the Holy Spirit’s help, we may find the courage to pray: Purify our conscience, O God, that we too may rejoice in all that we have been given.”
Moving Forward: “How can you live and love like Mary, rejoicing in all God has given you?”